And saml



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. CRAGG, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AND SAML. ARCHBOLD, OF YASHINGTODISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SURFACE CONDENSER FOR STEAM-ENGINES, 85C.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 31,441, dated February 19, 1861.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known, that we, JOSEPH CRAGG, of Baltimore, State of Maryland, andSAMUEL Anci-mom), of the city of Tashington and District of Columbia,have invented a new and improved mode of surface condenser forsteam-engines, which can also be applied for the cooling or frigeratingthe condensed steam and water from the condensers'and airpumps ofsteam-engines, so that said condensed steam and water can again becontinuously applied, when cooled, as injection-water, and which canalso be applied as a feed-water heater for steam engines and boilers andfor the distillation of sea-water or other fluids or the frigeration orcooling or heating of wines or other nonelastic fluids and of steam,air, and other elastic fluids by the use of cold or hot, elastic or non,elastic fiuids; and we hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of thesame, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a partof thisspecification, in which`H Figure 1 is a half size section of the surfacecondenser, A, vulcanized rubber joints or other elastic material,compressing against the spine plates, and forming a steam-tight joint.This spine plate has projecting tlanches on the water side, dipping intothe hollow spines on the steam side, in order to produce a thoroughcirculation of the water or other' fluids, in the upper and lowerspines; B, wrought iron, or other metallic followers, pressing againstvulcanized india rubber or other elastic material; C, bolts, set screws,and jam nuts, for regulating the pressure upon the followers, andcompressing the india rubber, or other elastic material, against thespine plate tlanches; D, spine plate with a series of projectingflanches on the opposite sides of spines, to be cast in one piece withspines and flanches thereon, or the spines and flanches, may bemanufactured separately, and secured to the plates by screwing on orotherwise, but the former mode is preferred; E, outside casing ofsurface condenser, to be made hollow, in one casting of iron or othermetal, with steam, and water passages, and recesses, for followers andpackings cast therein, or may be built up of several pieces of metalliccastings, or forged, or rolled metallic plates; the former is preferred.This casing is to be kept full of water, when the condenser is inoperation; F, cover to condenser; G, spiral springs on upper bracketplates, for regulating the expansion and contraction of the spine andbracket plates; these springs may be of either the spiral or ellipticvariety, or of vulcanized rubber, or other elastic material.

Fig. 2, sectional plan of surface condenser, showing outside casing E,with the water inlet and outlet arrows marked in blue. A, india rubber,(or other elastic material) joint; B, wrought iron, or other metallicfollowers; C, bolts for regulating followers; D, spine plate, withposition of spines (when in place) showing steam passages between, byred arrows.

Fig. 3, sectional elevation through condenser, marked on plan H, H. Thewater passages are shown in blue arrows, and the steam passages, in redarrows.

Fig. 4e, sectional elevation through condenser, marked'on plan I, I. Thesteam passages are shown in red arrows, and the water passages in bluearrows,-the passage of condensed water to air pump, is shown at J,exhaust steam passage from cylinder, shown at K.'

Fig. 5, section of surface condenser, with india rubber packings andfollowers, as shown in the other figures, except that the spine platehas solid spines on each side of the plates, steam and water betweenalternate spaces, and always moving in opposite, or rectangulardirection.

Description of apparatus when used as a frgemtor.--The opening marked K,of the apparatus, is secured to the delivery passage of the air pump ofsteam engines, and the condensed water from said pump is forced, orallowed to tiow through the passages marked with red arrows, and isthereby cooled. This water then passes to the condenser again,`throughpassage L, Fig. 4t, and again condenses the steam from the cylinder, andso on continuously. In this case, the passage J, is closed. The waterfor cooling purposes, pursues the same course as described in surfacecondenser.7

lhen the apparatus is to be used for distilling sea water, or thefrigeration, or cooling of wines or other liquids, the steam from thesea water, passes through the opening marked K, of the apparatus, andthrough the passages marked with red arrows, and falls as fresh water,to the bottom passage, marked J, which may lead to the water tanks, orother receptacle, the passage L, being closed, the Water for coolingpurposes enters at the Water inlet, and out at the outlet, as shown inblue arrows, and as before explained as surface condenser. Vhen used forcooling Wines,` or other liquids, they enter into passage K, asdescribed in the Distilling of sea Water, and the Water or air used forcooling purposes, as therein described.

'When med as a feedwater heater for steam/engine boilers-Phe steam, orhot Water, passes through the lpassage K, following the red arrows (seeFig. 4,) and out at L. The feed Water to be heated, passes from theforce pump, at the Water inlet passage, and out by the Water outletpassage to the boiler, with passage J closed, or the process may bereversed.

What We claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patentfor a surface condenser, and the other dierent purposes hereinspecified, is-

l. The form and general arrangement of the outside easing marked E withthe steam and water passages.

2. The inode 0f making a Water, and steam tight joint between thecasing, and spine plates.

3. The mode of arranging the spine plates for the purpose of obtaining,With little oost, a large quantity of surface in a small space, and athorough circulation of the steam, Water, or other elastic, ornon-elastic fluids, using for the purpose herein speciiied, anapparatus, as herein substantially described.

JOSEPH CRAGG. SAML. ARCHBOLD.

Witnesses:

HENRY A. BODIEN, BEDFORD WV. WALKER.

